Avalon Hill Talisman: The Magical Quest Board Game, 5th Edition

I never played Talisman before coming to it fresh now in its 5th Edition. Better late than never.The 5th Edition base game is a lot of fun and the box contains a good horde of resources that allow you to craft your own campaigns as well as play the basic game.The rules, fully explained in a large, full-colour very clear and easy to follow guide, are simple enough to make Talisman a fun, basic board game, but complex enough to allow for a lot more depth for players who want it.The whole game is readily open to customization, with enough options to make it the basis for a real, character-based RPG, the base rules amenable to being simplified or made more complex to suit differing tastes.The contents of the box are high quality, well-packaged and presented.The twelve playable character models are well-detailed 32mm scale gaming figures made of sturdy grey plastic (and they can be used in any 32mm scale fantasy table-top game).Though you don't need to paint them, the figures can look really excellent when painted. (I use Vallejo surface primer, a mixture of Vallejo and Reaper acrylics and Vallejo varnish, but any decent acrylics will do the job).The 5th Edition "Talisman Alliances: Fate Beckons" expansion box adds a lot of extra resources that give this game even more repeat playability and allows for much greater scope when it comes to crafting your own further adventures...Highly recommended for anyone who likes fantasy and table-top games.

Talisman fifth edition is a great update of the classic adventure board game. I previously owned the second edition when growing up and literally played this game for hours and hours. I can honestly say, being able to play an updated version of the game with my own children is truly magical.The game play is very similar to previous additions. It’s simple to set up but does require a good amount of table top space. The rule book is large, clear and easy to follow. Play time can be anything between 1 to 2 hours, however, we find, by using our own house rule’s we are able to speed this along quite a lot, making the game even more enjoyable.The option to choose from 12 characters really adds to the fun of the game. The troll is probably one of the strongest and easiest to play, a great option for new or younger players. When playing with our children, we avoided picking magical characters for the first few games. This helped to keep the game play simple.What makes this talisman addition stand out for me is the quality of the figures. They have wonderful details and I found them very easy to paint. I used a black undercoat and then dry brushed the highlights in white. I then use transparent oil paints to add colour.The magic of adventure board gaming is still here. This is a great opportunity to relive your youth or introduce a whole new generation to table top board gaming.

An excellent edition of a classic game. Every game is different and my kids have loved playing this (12,16). Simple to pick up and play, making your own stories for your character as you play just happens. Best played with 3 or more, but still fun if just the two of you.

A fun update of a classic fantasy board game. Quality components, simple rules and quick gameplay.

One of the best games to play with friends and so much fun

Very happy to see this back in publication, after enjoying the 4th edition. I don’t know why the age guidance increased to a 12+, as my 8 year old enjoys this and is more than capable of giving every other player a run for their money. I do miss the board extensions from the 4th and hope that some good ones come along in the future.There are some great adventure cards, but fewer creatures to contend with, meaning it seems to take longer to build up strength and craft than it used to. Also, some rule changes make the game a little easier, for example, being cursed as a toad isn’t so drastically damaging to a character’s play than it used to be. The toad holds on to most everything, it just can’t use them for the duration of one turn. The hag and poltergeist are still within the pack.I find the board colours a bit bright, and the card designs feel very 1970s. These things are non-issues as we’ve played so much now, I hardly notice. I’m sure the crown of command was more complicated in the last version: this is a race to get there first, and as long as you’re strong enough to get through the inner region, chances are that you’ll win.This is a fantastic game, with a serious following and a favourite for my family and me.

Not played before. Was recommended courtesy of Chatgpt.Fantastic family game, taken two games to fully understand.Loads of fun, takes about 1½ hours with 3 players, there is a skill to learn but I won't ruin it for you. Really pleased with this.

Played 2nd edition and all the expansions back in the day.This is a great update, even if some of the rules are less brutal than I recall.The board and all cards and counters are well illustrated and decent quality.The playing pieces are very good and will look great if you want to paint them to match the profile pictures.Really easy to learn and play and with expansions already available this is a game that can grow with you.The only thing missing are model toads but that's a minor thing.